Contemporary cruising

New Boat: Bavaria 32

Bavaria has made some major changes to its established range of cruising boats and the newly arrived Bavaria 32 epitomises this more contemporary build, reports Kevin Green.

The entry-level boat in the German builder’s range has been designed by none other than Farr Yachts, while the layout sports the name of BMW Design Works USA, with all this name dropping the replacement for the Bavaria 31 has fuelled an expectant market.

Farr are famous for designing performance boats and the last Farr I helmed was the Ocean Leopard supermaxi, so finding its illustrious name on a modest 32-foot cruising boat takes a bit of explaining. “Farr’s input has been to make a more efficient boat,” explains Jamie Millar from Australian distributor North South Yachting.

Bringing in the ergonomic and user-friendliness of car design via the BMW hookup has given this 32-footer, and its bigger brother the 45, some clever market differentiators. But what does this actually mean for you, the buyer? Well, the overall shape of the 32 is slightly boxier than its predecessor with less overhangs, a beamier hull and more vertical topsides.

From a design point of view Patrick Shaughnessy, President Farr Yacht Design, said his remit was to design a “large yacht”, so we have plenty of volume in the 32. Tall topsides lead up to a prominent cabin top, but flush hatches and fittings leave a much more streamlined look than the previous design.

However, looks alone does not make a good cruiser and this is where it gets interesting with a radical change in the conservative Bavaria rig. A taller Selden mast supports a large mainsail with the headsail reduced in size, bringing power further back in the boat. Controlling this power has meant moving the traditionally positioned coachroof mainsheet and track into the cockpit and the track has been dispensed with on the way.

A bold move which may win or lose buyers with some not liking the intrusion of the 6:1 mainsheet mechanism onto the narrow cockpit table, while performance sailors will enjoy putting more twist on the main and generally having better control.

Why consider?
Boat buying can be likened to eating in McDonald’s, where the temptation, quite often, is to upsize. This type of ultra modern 32-footer, however, is very much a meal in itself and can very much hold its own for several reasons.

The two-cabin layout has enough living space to suit a couple and small family with ease and the cockpit really can seat the number of people listed in its RCD Category Class A licence: six.

Accommodation is also good. When lying at anchor my preferred berth would be up forward where the voluminous hull allows a spacious V-berth with enough locker space to accommodate two comfortably. At sea I would prefer the snugger abaftships stern berth where the boat’s motion would be kinder but the noisy engine room fan that cools the Volvo 18hp may hinder sleep.

Servicing the engine, by the way, is easy with good side access and easy entry from the gas strutted stairs in the saloon.

Below decks
The saloon fitout on the review boat came with an agreeable light mahogany finish which I prefer to some of the other darker stained woods used by Bavaria. Reflecting the advanced CNC machining processes used by the Giebelstadt located factory, the wood finishes are smooth. The solid mahogany-veneer doors look natural rather than overly machined and the feel is much more contemporary than its predecessor, the 31.

Interior natural light was good in the bright sunlight despite the small saloon windows. Seating on the blue cloth textured cushions is comfortable with an L-shaped settee to starboard and a smaller one to port, adjoining the small chart table. Disappointingly there is no saloon double bunk available for when the kids bring their friends for a weekend. Not a problem commented North South Yachting’s Jamie Millar, who said this could be easily installed snugly in the starboard settee.

The aforementioned chart table may be small but conveniently faces aft so the navigator can keep a weather eye open. The bulkhead above the table can be home to the optional Raymarine C80 chartplotter, with the topside binnacle housing the new Raymarine ST70 Tridata instruments. I would also stretch the budget to fit the SPX10 autopilot (RRP $5,776.00).

Behind the portside nav table is the large and elongated head with its manual Jabsco toilet. Shower-time for all the kids is definitely an option here thanks to its spaciousness. Good features include a moulded-in wet locker and quality shower fittings.

Stepping out into the saloon leads to the L-shaped galley with its double-burner gimballed stove and oven. A nice idea here, to maximise the workspace, is the hinged cover over the stove to allow it to be used as an extension of the galley area. Considering this is a 32-footer the galley is functional with enough locker space to make extended cruising possible and the top opening fridge is big enough for several six packs.

On deck
Climbing up the companionway to the cockpit through hinged doors is a pleasant experience and out here there is enough space to lounge around and even stretch out along the bench seats. Yet the area is snug enough, thanks to its high combings and table, to allow crew to brace themselves easily while under way. One cockpit modification I would consider is to box in the underside of the steel-legged table to create extra storage space.

The table attaches to the impressive binnacle which has user-friendly engine controls and Raymarine ST70 readouts, which I particularly like because of their dual analogue/digital display. The folding Lewmar steering wheel is a good idea for a smaller boat like this, allowing easy access to the transom swim platform.

A recent feature of Bavaria’s is the latest version of their fold-down transom cum swim platform arrangement, which has taken this idea to a whole new level. Even the racing boys at Farr are happy to talk about it. Cleverly integrating gas struts into the hinges, the entire transom easily drops down to water level and, with its laminated surface, becomes an extension of the deck area. It becomes the kind of inviting spot that makes you want to reach for one of those six packs stored in the fridge, grab a fishing rod and chill out on a foldaway chair. Not bad, to say the least, for a 32-footer!

Deckspace is generally plentiful all round the 32 with solid stainless handholds running along the flat coachroof for support as you walk forward to an uncluttered bow area leading to the pulpit.

Australian boats are fitted with an electric windlass as standard and the deep chain locker has plenty of room for a second anchor. Above it the Furlex headsail roller reefing system connects to the tallish Selden rig, which is kept upright with heavy chain plates attached to the gunwales, while the sheets have moved inboard on the 32 to the coachroof, probably to improve the sheeting angle and upwind performance of the beamy hull.

Not all lines lead aft from the coach-roof stepped mast, which is a bit of downer for those sailors unwilling to dance around on the foredeck in a blow. On the review boat the Elvstrom mainsail was fully battened and comes with single-line slab reefing and lazyjacks as standard. Back in the cockpit, twin Lewmar 30 primary winches are sensibly located near enough the helm for short-handed sailing and there is an option for an asymmetric spinnaker to be deployed which involves an optional bowsprit to be fitted.

Overall, a straightforward sail plan which I personally like.

The Farr-designed hull of the 32 is interesting to look at, both above and below the waterline. With a finer entry than previous incarnations of Bavaria yet, with probably more wetted area overall and with beam carried right back, it epitomises the modern cruiser. Keeping things upright is a deeper cast iron keel (1.95m) matched with a larger bulb and balanced spade rudder, no doubt the result of computer generated modelling by the R&D brains at Farr. For stiffness a new stainless-steel grid has been laminated into the fibreglass hull, one of the strongest I have come across and, on the outside, the bow area has been laid with Aramid fabric which is used in bullet proof vests.

Another plus point at the bow is the stainless steel protector guard fitted to minimise those inevitable dockside scratches. So, looking good so far at the dockside, but what about on the water?

On the water
Easing out of the Pittwater berth we motored into the freshening northerly breeze. Under power the wheel felt light and the Volvo Penta D1-20 18hp saildrive pushed us along easily. An optional folding propeller was fitted to the test boat but speed was adequate with 6.9 knots showing on the log at maximum revs of 3000rpm. Slowing down, we quickly hoisted the main with the lazyjacks easing its deployment and I grabbed the mainsheet while at the helm as we made sail near Scotland Island and rolled out the jib shortly after. With the wind freshening to 17 knots it was ideal conditions for the 32. Regular gusts livened things further, yet the helm was not overly heavy and the boat tracked well, without jumping around.

For the sailing purist the optional bimini can be intrusive, so I asked to have it stowed, sat out on the high combings and at full stretch played the wheel as I watched the telltales on the jib flatten out. I hasten to add, not the typical way a cruising sailor would go about his or her business, preferring instead to be comfortably leaning behind the helm. However, with twilight races in mind and very much the domain of this new 32 I’d say, I wanted to see how the Farr hull design would perform. Once I got the feel of the Lewmar direct drive helm we wound the gear in and set off to windward at pace. The 22-knot plus gusts dipped the gunwales in before we began rounding up. But at a steady 17 knots she tracked straight and at about 40 degrees on the wind felt comfortable.

The best numbers I managed to windward were 6.4 knots when the breeze eased to about 13 knots and the sheets were slightly cracked. Beam reaching felt very comfortable because the wide hull with its fine bow kept the rig stable.

In light airs some extra canvas would be good, so adding the asymmetric (with snuffer sock for easy deployment) would be ideal.

“Generally a well mannered boat” was my summation noted down at the time.

Specifications

Length overall: 9.99m

Length of hull: 9.75m

Length of waterline: 8.85m

Beam:3.42m

Draught standard: 1.95m

Draught option: 1.50m

Displacement: 5200kg

Ballast: 1300kg

Engine: Volvo Penta D120 13Kw/18hp

Water tank: 150l

Fuel tank: 150l

Sail area50.00m2

Height in saloon: 1.84m

Mast height above waterline: 14.80m

Introductory price: $180,232,000

Australian distributor: North South Yachting, Quays Marina, 1856 Pittwater Road, Church Point, NSW 2105, ph (02) 9998 9605, website www.bavariayachts.com.au

Likes

- Contemporary space-efficient design

- Sailability

- Value for money

Dislikes

- Small diameter (8mm) mainsheet

- Intrusive engine room fan

Author: Kevin Green

 Kevin is a qualified Yachtmaster and the ex-editor of Australian Yachting magazine.

SEE PHOTOS OF THE BAVARIA 32 BELOW...